Langley Township’s Fireworks Reversal Prompts PETA Plea: Ban the Bang Forever—And We’ll Chip in for the Drone Show!

For Immediate Release:
July 11, 2025

Contact:
Nicole Perreira 202-483-7382

Following the news that Langley Township is planning to revert to deafening fireworks displays for Canada Day after two years of hosting animal-friendly drone shows, PETA sent a letter today to Mayor Eric Woodward, urging him to stick to the fireworks-free celebration, which is safer for animals, veterans and others sensitive to loud noises or smoke, and the environment. If the Mayor agrees to permanently purge the pyrotechnics, PETA has offered to offset some of the community’s dazzling drone display costs.

In the letter, PETA points out that Langley Township itself warned of the dangers of fireworks on its social media page, noting that “the noise from fireworks can cause panic and fear in pets and wildlife.” Frightened companion animals have been known to jump fences or break through windows and screen doors to try to escape the noises—and some are never reunited with their families. PETA also notes that fireworks have caused bushfires and that New Year’s Eve fireworks are believed to have caused the deadly Palisades Fire in California earlier this year.

“Fireworks sound like all-out war to animals, who panic and are often injured or even killed as they try to escape the confusing and chaotic cacophony,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA is urging Langley Township not to take a step backwards and to keep its Canada Day celebrations safe and welcoming for all by sticking to spectacular drone shows that leave animals in peace.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Mayor Woodward follows.

July 11, 2025

The Honorable Eric Woodward

Mayor of the Township of Langley

Dear Mayor Woodward:

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including many thousands in British Columbia—with a plea: Will you please continue to use drones and forgo fireworks for all future Canada Day celebrations so that wildlife, domestic animals, children, and noise-sensitive veterans can enjoy a quieter, less stressful celebration? Your township has already taken modern and compassionate steps by opting out of fireworks for the past two years, and we sincerely hope you will not backtrack on this progress.

As Langley Township pointed out only a few months ago: “The noise from fireworks can cause panic and fear in pets and wildlife.” During fireworks displays, dogs often flee from the loud noises, sometimes jumping through windows or over fences and ending up lost, seriously hurt, or even killed. A couple from Saskatchewan is still searching for their dog who took off after being frightened by this year’s Canada Day fireworks. The loud blasts also scare wild animals onto roads, where they risk being hit by traffic, and cause birds to panic and abandon their nests, leaving their babies vulnerable to starvation and predators. Fireworks pose a danger to humans, too. The noise and explosions caused by conventional fireworks can be deeply disturbing to veterans and others suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders. Last year, a city-sanctioned fireworks show in San Jose, California, sparked several bush fires in the surrounding area, and the deadly Palisades Fire of January 2025 is believed to have been caused by New Year’s Eve fireworks. These incidents serve as stark reminders that the risks associated with fireworks extend far beyond fleeting entertainment—they endanger animals, humans, and entire communities alike.

Drone shows, in contrast, are quiet and safer and produce virtually no air pollution, and they’re growing in popularity. Many communities—including Sudbury and LaSalle in Ontario—have implemented fear-free ways to celebrate Canada Day.

By choosing to permanently replace conventional fireworks with drone shows for all future Canada Day celebrations, Langley Township would set a commendable example and ensure a more inclusive, safe, and animal-friendly event for everyone—now and in the years to come. If you commit to this change, PETA is ready to help offset some of the costs of a drone show. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

President